International relations 1919-1933

What happens to Germany and the Versailles-treaty?

International situation 1919

• Same great powers as 1914 except _____ • USA is strongest economically but decides to leave Europe to it self (isolationism) • Britain and France weak economically but still world powers • Russia weak and isolated but has potential. New government: Soviet socialist republic • Germany weak and isolated but revanchist and has potential. New government: Weimar republic • The eastern buffer zone: a power vacuum.

Prospects for the future

• In 1919 we have a flawed peace settlement, • No agreed means of its enforcements • A weak international system • And then in 1930 we get the economic crisis

Key dates 1919-1933

• 1919 Paris Peace settlement • 1921 Reparations fixed at 132 billion gold marks • 1922 Treaty of Rapallo between Germany and USSR • 1923 French occupation of the Ruhr • 1924 Dawes Plan • 1925 Locarno Treaty • 1926 Germany enters the League of Nations • 1929 Young plan, Wall Street Crash • 1932 Reparations virtually abolished: • 1933 Hitler comes to power.

USA European policy

• USA did not become a member of the League of nations.

• The Versailles treaty was not ratified and US withdrew its promise to help France in case of German attack.

• In spite of isolationism USA participated in the Dawes plan (1924) and the Young plan (1929) so they could get some of their war loans back.

• Did the US jump from its responsibilities?

British policy towards Germany

• Attempt to reconcile France and Germany in Genoa 1922 fail.

• Britain disapproves of the Ruhr occupation 1923 • Britains policy victorious in the Locarno-Treaty, Belgium, France, Germany agree to respect their joint frontiers.

French policy towards Germany

• Tough stand to 1923 - Occupation of Ruhr • France did not get backing from Britain so they revert to policy of friendship: – Dawes, Locarno, Young.

• Tough again after 1931 – reject the German-Austrian customs union

USSR foreign policy

• Isolation 1919-22 – Western countries participated in Civil war – Russia not invited to Versailles – Bolsheviks instigated world revolution • Rapollo treaty with Germany – Diplomatic relations and Germans allowed to build and test weapons in Russia.

• Cool relations with France and Britain.

What is the German Policy to 33

• Germans had a hard time accepting a treaty that treated Germans as a defeated nation • Stresemann's primary goals were 1) the protection of Germans abroad; 2) the readjustment of the eastern frontiers and 3) a union with German Austria.

International relations 1933-39

• Economic depression hits Europe hard 1930 – Huge reduction in trade – customs barrier – Bancrupties and unemployment with accompanying social disruption – Nationalistic and fascist movements gather strength • Japanese expansion in Asia

German foreign policy after 33

• Hitler comes to power in 1933 • His popularity is not least due to his aggresive ideas about foreign policy. He wants to make Germany strong again by: • destroying the Versailles-treaty • build upp the army • unite Germans • accquiring lebensraum in the east • Dominance of the aryan race (space and race) • Historians do not agree if these are new in German policy and if he planned a major war to obtain these aims.

• Brest-Litovsk was based on these principles

Breakdown of Versailles

• Leaves disarmament conference and league of nations oct 1933 • Anti-agression pact with Poland 1934 • Dollfuss assassinated by Austrian Nazis 1934 • Saar votes to return to Germany 1935 • Reintroduction of conscription march 1935 – Plans for rearmament extend back to Weimar (1932)

Weakness of France and UK

• France – Depression, eight governments 33-35, the army was defensive, no offensive or bombing capacity, pacifism.

• Britain – Small army busy overseas in empire, support for disarmament and league of nations. Taxes unpopular during depression. – Versailles unpopular – Britain wants to negotiate with Hitler

Anglo-German naval pact

• Dollfuss assassination got Italy, France and Britain to condemn Germany April 1935 at Stresa • France and Russia sign a treaty of mutual assistance may 1935 • Hitler made an naval pact with angry Britts, allowed 35% of British naval power – triple existing levels – France not consulted – So much for the united Stresa front – AGNP and the Abyssinian crisis alienated Mussolini

Mussolini and the Germans

• In 1934 M stopped a Nazi putch in Austria.

• Turning points in M attitude towards Germany: – Anglo-German naval agreement – M was displeased with the economic sanctions applied by the League of Nations after the invasion of Abbysina even if they were useless – Hitler did not criticize the invasion.

– Both M and Hitler supported Franco in the Spanish civil war.

– 1936 Berlin-Rome axis. 1937 Anti-comintern pact with Germany and Japan. 1939 Pact of Steel.

Hitler takes action 1936-38

• Mussolinis turn encourages Hitler • Remilitarisation of Rhineland march 1936 – The western powers take no action • Olympic games in Berlin 1936 • Hossbach memorandum • Anschluss with Austria march 1938 – Schuschnigg chancellor of Austria had announced a plebiscite after Nazis staged demonstration in all major cities.

– Hitler decided to invade Austria

Appeasement

• Britain and later France try to avoid war with Italy and Germany by giving way to their demands.

• Time: Locarno to German occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 39.

• Munich sept 1938 is the high point.

– Why?

• Avoid war at all cost (pacifism among the public) • Rearmament is to expensive in depression • The demands of Germany are reasonable • Hitler is better than Stalin • Use the peace for British rearmament

Munich: highlight of appeasement: • Demonstrations in Sudetenland –Hitler wants to invade Czechoslovakia • Sudetenland handed over to Germany at a four power conference in sept 1938 – Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain, Daladier – Czechs and Russians excluded • The effect of appeasement and Munich – Hitler convinced of British and French weakness – Stalin suspects that the Western powers are giving Germany free play in Eastern Europe

1939

• March - Germany occupies what is left of Czechoslovakia • Public opinion in the west turns • Britain promises to defend Pollands independence but are to slow to approach the USSR • Hitler wants Danzig and the Polish corridor • August 24 German-Russian non-agression pact • Sept. 1. German invasion of Poland • Sept. 3. Britain declares war against Germany.